Entitlement Free Children

​Mothering / Parenting is tiring and as I write this I have just awoken from an afternoon nanna nap. We all know that raising children is hard work and we are not always ‘on the ball’ with this as we become tired and cranky. As well as the actual act of raising said children, as parents, we also need to support their interests, their sports, their schools and the clubs they become part of. For many of us that looks like joining a committee, attending meetings, manning the canteen, shuttling children around, making cakes, supporting the fundraisers, travelling long distances, potting plants, making soup, setting up equipment, taking down equipment, cooking barbeques, etc, etc.In a nutshell donating lots of time and man power.The activities described above were all part of last week for myself and many others in my village. As Sunday afternoon rolls in, we are dragging ourselves around in the hope that we can be refreshed and ready to go for another working week by tomorrow morning. As I raise my children I know that I need to be an active member of their lives, which means I need to support the schools, the clubs and the associations that they choose to be part of. Often these associations are run by volunteers and are non-for-profit, therefore relying on the generosity of the locals and the local community. Without parents donating their time and effort many of these clubs would simply fold, they are usually reliant on committees to help raise funds by organising events and activities that support the club that your child is part of.Next time your child brings home a note asking for a donation of time or money, think carefully before you throw it into the recycling bin.Think about the following things:

If you don’t donate, who will?

If you don’t help who will?

What will happen to the association if this fundraiser/event can’t go ahead?

What is the association really asking for?

If you don’t help, then who will?

Can you honestly help?

You can support your child.

As an active member of associations you get to know the whole story, you are privileged to gain insight into the association, you feel good within yourself, you are supporting your children in a positive manner and you even make new friends!!